WORD OF GOD
Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth
many will awake, some to everlasting life,
some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
(Daniel 12:2)

WORD FOR TODAY
Eventually, no one knows when, time will come to an end. If our
existence has any sense or meaning then our actions here and now will
have consequences. God will weigh our lives and judge our worth. We can
prepare for this only by days of fruitful service of God and others.

WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Lord, you made us and you know us through and through. You know the
secrets of our hearts and our innermost feelings. Listen to the prayers
we have brought before you for the Church and the world. Grant our
requests and petitions and inspire us to prepare for your final coming
with lives of faith and generous service, This we ask through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

FAITH IN FOCUS: THE BOOK OF LIFE
The idea of a book with the names of those to be admitted to heaven
rings strangely in our modern ears. Rather than a leather-bound ledger
we would probably have a data base of names, addresses and personal
details kept on computer disk or CD.
But when Daniel speaks of this book he is echoing in ancient terms the
same situation that still applies today. Men and women still seek a
meaning to life, to their actions, their choices, their ultimate hopes
and dreams. And, just like us today, Daniel points out that God gives us
the freedom to behave in any way we choose in this world, as long as we
know that our conduct affects our eternal future.
It’s easy for Christians to get caught up in the here-and-now values of
our world. Although society values great acts of personal heroism and
admires people who make sacrifices for the benefit and development of
others, it still is firmly fixated on the transient, on a passing view
of life. Just look at the TV adverts to see what you are supposed to be
aiming for. Most are about comfort, luxury and image. You’ve really made
it when you have a beautiful person on your arm, can wear the latest
designer products and drive the fastest of cars. You are judged by what
passes for success.
Yet the gospel tells us that we judged by how we treat others and how
close we try to come to knowing and loving God. As the Church’s year
draws to a close we remember once more that the values we seek are
kingdom values which turn the world’s standards on their head.
If our names are to appear in the Book of Life then it will be because
we allowed ourselves to respond to the inner promptings of God’s Spirit,
because we took Christ’s teaching and his promises seriously enough to
act on them. And just in case we get sucked into thinking that God is so
kind that everything will turn out fine whatever sort of lives we lead,
we are reminded that God values our free will so much that he lets us
choose to opt out of his plan of salvation. God is the last one who
would force us to behave in a way that we did not want to. His final
judgement is real, and we are helping him to make it day by day.